The LoHud Yankees Blog

The Yankees continued to honor former PA announcer Bob Sheppard before and during today’s game.

Prior to the introductions of Old-Timers’ Day, the organization played a video on the big board. It spliced sound bits of Sheppard’s more famous introductions over the years with members of the organization talking about his significance.

The tribute kicked off the afternoon but was just a piece. Even before the video, the PA played an introduction given at a previous Old-Timers’ Day by Sheppard, who announced the event’s emcee’s, Michael Kay and John Sterling.

Kay and Sterling then introduced all the Old-Timers and followed by bringing out the widows of Billy Martin, Elston Howard, Thurmon Munson and Bobby Murcer. It ended with the introduction of Sheppard’s widow Mary. She was given a bouquet of flowers as she walked on the field. The former players then surrounded Mrs. Sheppard along the first-base line to offer their support.

The Yankees saved one special presentation for the seventh-inning stretch. After the playing of “God Bless America,” the PA played a video of Sheppard signing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” Sheppard made a tradition of signing the song every Mother’s Day. Today it replaced “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

The Old-Timers on hand for the ceremony all had kind words to share for Sheppard. Some grew close with him over the years. Others just shared tremendous respect for how Sheppard carried himself as a man.

Chris Chambliss remembered the first time Sheppard announced him to bat. “It was just — you’ve arrived,” Chambliss said. “That voice just rings in your ears.”

“I remember my first day as a Yankee,” Bucky Dent said. “Walking up from the on-deck circle and hearing him announce my name, it’s something you don’t forget.”

Although they talked seldom in recent years, Jerry Coleman said he considered Sheppard a friend. Coleman respected Sheppard’s work, saying no one every spoke the English language better.

“And Bob was just an eloquent, beautiful and delightful as a person as well,” Coleman said.

Photo credit: Associated Press

While I’m downstairs compiling notes and quotes from this Yankee loss, I thought I’d leave you with some audio of an emotional Reggie Jackson from earlier this afternoon.

Jackson talked for more than 20 minutes today about how the last few days have been very pensive for him since George Steinbrenner’s passing. He canceled public appearances at Tuesday’s All-Star Game (although he attended the game and sat in Artie Moreno’s box) and spent the last few days quietly with friends. In truth, Jackson said, he’d rather be elsewhere than Old-Timers’ Day.

“I’d rather not be here today,” he said. “I’d rather have passed.”

Jackson said he talked to club official who he respects during the week and that they convinced him to come anyway. In a well-delivered one-liner a few minutes after Jackson’s press conference ended, Brian Cashman joked that the slugger had no other choice. “It’s in his contract,” Cashman said.

Clearly, Jackson appeared more affected than the rest of the Old-Timers, who mostly shared memories of Steinbrenner. Players from the late 70s “Bronx Zoo” said their team made The Boss unruly in the 80s and early 90s. “In a way, I think the teams we had in the early and middle 70s spoiled him,” Graig Nettles said. “He could get on us and we could still perform. I think he tried that with some of the teams in the 80s and early 90s and those guys didn’t respond as well.”

Other players shared their own stories. Gene Michael said Steinbrenner mellowed after he fired Buck Showalter and hired Joe Torre. Roy White remembered the circus at Old-Timers’ Day, 1978, when Steinbrenner announced the team would bring back Billy Martin as manager in 1980, even though he had been canned five days earlier.

You can listen to the audio, but Jackson sounded different. He developed a close relationship with Steinbrenner when he was brought here and even after he was traded away to Anaheim. “There are players and owners that are tied to each other in sports,” Jackson said. “I’m tied to him and I’m proud of that.”

Jackson said the two last spoke on July 4th, The Boss’s 80th birthday. He said in recent months that phone conversations with Steinbrenner had been strong, talking Yankees and family.

Reggie understood Steinbrenner’s health had slipped but never expected what happened on Tuesday.

“The conversations were so good for so many months,” he said. “I was caught off-guard.”

For the rest of Jackson, you can listen to the audio here. Don’t miss around the nine-minute mark. He talks about Sheppard, who he compared to John Wooden, and even does a pretty decent Sheppard impression:

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YANKEES (57-32)
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Francisco Cervelli C
Brett Gardner LF
A.J. Burnett RHP
vs. Rays

RAYS (54-35)
Ben Zobrist RF
Carl Crawford LF
Evan Longoria 3B
Carlos Pena 1B
Matt Joyce DH
John Jaso C
B.J. Upton CF
Jason Bartlett SS
Reid Brignac 2B
Jeff Niemann RHP
vs. Yankees

TIME/TV: 4:10 p.m. EDT/FOX

UMPIRES: HP D.J. Reyburn, 1B Marvin Hudson, 2B Jim Wolf, 3B Derryl Cousins (crew chief).

WEATHER: It’s a balmy 94 degrees and partly sunny. The PA just played a song about it being a beautiful day for baseball. I’m not sure about that, but it probably looks nice on TV. Anyway, there’s a heat advisory in effect until 6 p.m. as well as a slight chance of a thunderstorm this evening.

IN THE MICK OF TIME: With his team down a run and time running out, Mickey Rivers ripped a two-hopper off the wall in right-center for a two-run double. His Bombers beat the Clippers 3-2 on the walk-off hit at the 64th annual Old-Timers’ Day. Ron Guidry was the winner; Al Downing was the loser. More importantly, it looked like everyone had a good time.

PADDING THEIR LEAD: As for the current Yankees, they moved three games up on the Rays in the AL East race after last night’s thrilling 5-4 walk-off win. They also lead the Red Sox by 6 1/2 games. Of course, the Yankees still own the best record in baseball, but just as impressively they are a superb 21-11 against division opponents this season.

A.J. IN THE EI-LAND OF THE BEHOLDER: Depending on the month, you’ve probably had very different feelings about A.J. Burnett this season. With pitching coach Dave Eiland away dealing with an undisclosed personal matter, Burnett flopped in June, going 0-5 with an 11.35 ERA. He lost all five starts and didn’t make it past four innings in three of them. But Burnett’s fortunes turned once Eiland returned to the club. He is 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA in his last two starts. Just as importantly, Burnett has regained his command; he has allowed just 14 baserunners in 13.2 IP.

HONORING SHEPPARD: The Yankees played a video tribute to Bob Sheppard, who died on Sunday at 99, prior to the Old-Timers’ Day introductions. His widow, Mary, was announced last and presented with a bouquet of flowers. The club will have a special presentation during the seventh-inning stretch of today’s game to honor Sheppard as well.

Update, 4:12 p.m.: The game is underway. Question: Has A-Rod worn tape lately on his right thumb? I haven’t noticed it. It’s on there now.

Update, 4:17 p.m.: Rays lead 1-0 on an RBI double by Carlos Pena. Evan Longoria scored from first after he singled to left with one out.

Pena’s double was poorly played in RF by Swisher. He failed to cut off the ball before it reached the wall and then overthrew cutoff man Robinson Cano. Pena was trotting into second and did not take advantage. A faster or more alert runner may have advanced to third.

Update, 4:35 p.m.: Bad A.J.? Maybe. He hasn’t been that wild, but he already trails 3-0 after that two-run homer by Brignac. A fan in the RF seats made a nice toss back onto the field that nearly caught 2B ump Jim Wolf napping.

The Yank bats will have work to do against Niemann.

Update, 4:53 p.m.: And they’ve begun in earnest. Gardner just slashed a two-run single to make it 3-2. Jeter is now at the plate with two on and one out. Gardner’s single came on a two-strike pitch.

Update, 4:54 p.m.: Something wrong with Burnett? Dustin Moseley is warming in the pen.

Update, 4:57 p.m.: Burnett will pitch the third. The bullpen is quiet for now.

Update, 5:01 p.m.: HBP of Longoria by Burnett, who followed it up by bouncing a wild pitch to Pena. A.J. has lost it faster than Dustin Johnson at this year’s U.S. Open. (Golf joke.)

Update, 5:04 p.m.: After an RBI single by Pena, Joe Girardi came to the mound with Gene Monahan to get Burnett. He leaves trailing 4-2 after two-plus innings pitched. Because Monahan came to the mound, I’m sure Moseley will get some time to warm up here due to an injury.

Update, 5:12 p.m.: The bat you want? The bat you need? MLB.com says the Yanks are showing interest in Wes Helms: http://mlb.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/07/yankees_show_interest_in_helms.html

Update, 5:17 p.m.: Yanks just played a Yogi video between innings followed with “We miss you Yogi” written on the screen. Nice touch.

Update, 5:18 p.m.: The line for bad A.J.: 2+ IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 2 HP, 1 WP. Still no word on his injury.

Update, 5:41 p.m.: Credit Mosely for escaping a two-on, no-out jam there. He retired Crawford, Longoria and Pena consecutively to keep the score 4-2. Yanks will now come to bat here in the last of the fourth. Like yesterday, it feels bleak here but they are right in the game.

Update, 5:52 p.m.: Big spot here for Jeter. Two on, two out, Yanks down two.

Update, 5:53 p.m.: Well, that was quick. Jeter went first-pitch swinging. He hit it hard, but grounded out to Brignac at second.

Update, 5:56 p.m.: * INJURY UPDATE * Per Yankees media relations, Burnett left today’s game with lacerations on his right hand. No word as to how he developed the lacerations.

Update, 6:09 p.m.: The mighty Brignac strikes again. This time it’s a three-run homer to RCF. The Rays now lead 8-2 going into the bottom of the fifth

In other news, Joe West would not enjoy this game.

Update, 6:17 p.m.: A Teixeira HR cut the deficit to 8-3. Chad Gaudin is now on to pitch for the Yankees.

Update, 6:33 p.m.: So a homer by Posada has now cut it to 9-4. It’s still sleepy in here, but Niemann has hardly been Strasburgian. There’s plenty of time.

Update, 6:34 p.m.: Kim Jones is reporting that Cashman said A.J. tripped walking up the stairs and cut his hand bracing his fall.

Of course, this happens to all of us. We just don’t rake in $18 mil a year based on what we do with said hand.

Update, 6:45 p.m.: Encore presentation of Bob Sheppard singing Mother’s Day staple “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” The video replaces “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” for the day. Naturally, the moment was met with applause from the crowd.

Update, 6:50 p.m.: Jeter’s leadoff single in the seventh snapped an 0-for-10 skid.

Update, 7:03 p.m.: The Yankees actually had an excellent chance that inning to close the gap but the score remains 9-4. Cano grounded out with two on to end the inning.

Update, 7:08 p.m.: Pena just hit home run No. 19 on the season and the cavalcade to the exits began. Rays lead 10-4. Pena now has a season-high four hits today. That is not a surprise considering the egregious .201 average.

Update, 7:30 p.m.: Another narrow escape for the Rays, as Jeter is retired on the very rare 4-U. His ground ball to the right side just evaded Pena, but Brignac, who has played a terrific game, speared it and beat Jeter to the bag by half a step. So the Rays head to the ninth up 10-4.

Update, 7:47 p.m.: Yanks fall, 10-5. The game took 3:35. We’ll talk here in a bit.

Damaso Marte was sent to the 15-day DL today with inflammation in his left shoulder. The discomfort began just before the Seattle series, according to Brian Cashman. Marte still felt pain on Friday and was given an MRI during last night’s game.

Cashman said Marte will embark on a strengthening program. The hope is that his shoulder will respond and Marte can return quickly.

LHP Boone Logan (17 G, 0-0, 3.93 ERA, 18.1 IP, 20 H, 12 BB, 13 K, 1.75 WHIP) was re-called to replace Marte.

• I know it received some attention on Twitter, so let’s start with Joe Girardi’s statement about the eighth inning. Girardi was asked about David Robertson’s overpowering eighth on Friday, when he struck out the side. Naturally, the question was, will Girardi look at Robertson in the eighth? Girardi said he will “do what’s best for the club.” He couched it a bit by saying it’s only natural for Robertson to earn the ball in key spots if he’s on a roll, but the manager sure sounded like his bullpen’s setup roles are fluid for the time being.

“You have to earn your roles here and we evaluate every day,” Girardi said. Did Joba hear him?

• Girardi said Robertson made a slight adjustment and the result has been better consistency. When asked for specifics, Girardi said Robertson had closed himself off, presumably saying that he was throwing across his body. But since Robertson kept his body in line, his performances have improved because of it.

• Sergio Mitre was scheduled to throw a side session today. Cashman said Mitre will be activated after he recovers on his normal schedule, so expect him back by Tuesday.

• Like I said yesterday, Alfredo Aceves will begin his flat-ground throwing program. Cashman did not specify a day.

The Yankees just opened today’s festivities with a tribute video to Bob Sheppard. The video included snippets of former players talking about Sheppard, but mixed in were sound clips of Sheppard introducing batters, from the No. 1 hole to the No. 9 hole. Good stuff.

If you’re unable to watch live, I’ll provide some updates and a list of those attending today.

The Old-Timers —
Lee Mazzilli
Pat Kelly
Rick Cerone
Dave Eiland
Jesse Barfield
Mike Easler
Jerry Narron
Oscar Gamble (sans afro)
Homer Bush
Brian Doyle
Aaron Small
Mike Torrez
Chris Chambliss
Bucky Dent
Al Downing
Hector Lopez
Horace Clarke
Gene Michael
Joe Pepitone
Charlie Hayes
Roy White
Mickey Rivers
Cecil Fielder (looking trim!)
Mel Stottlemyre
Joe Girardi
David Cone
Bob Turley
Don Larsen
Moose Skowron
Graig Nettles
Ron Guidry
Goose Gossage
Reggie Jackson
1950 World Champions —
Don Johnson
Hank Workman
Duane Pillette
Charlie Silvera
Jerry Coleman (great storyteller)
Whitey Ford

The roll call of the players ended with Michael Kay informing the crowd that Yogi Berra had a fall in his house and will miss the ceremony. Berra received a big get-well cheer from the crowd.

Kay and John Sterling just introduced the widows of Billy Martin, Elston Howard, Thurman Munson, Bobby Murcer and Sheppard.

The ceremony is complete. The game is about to begin.

I’m working on the pregame notes and will post them in a bit.

As you know, Yogi Berra will miss the 64th annual Old-Timers’ Day celebration today. He fell in his home in Montclair, N.J. last night. The Yankees said Berra was OK but unable to attend today’s event.

Here’s a statement from the Berra family:

“Yogi fell down last night near our house (in Montclair), and suffered some bruises. He is now recovering at home. He is extremely disappointed he is unable to participate in today’s Old-Timers ceremonies and see so many of his friends. He appreciates the well-wishes and hopes to be up and about very soon.”

These are the guys behind A.J. Burnett today:

YANKEES
Jeter SS
Swisher RF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Posada DH
Granderson CF
Cervelli C
Gardner LF

RAYS
Zobrist RF
Crawford LF
Longoria 3B
Pena 1B
Joyce DH
Jaso C
Upton CF
Bartlett SS
Brignac 2B
Niemann RHP

It’s early, but you can expect another busy day at the ballpark filled with memories. Here’s a schedule of events, followed by a list of players expected to attend Old-Timers’ Day:

10:00 a.m.: Ruppert Plaza parking garage opens
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.: Old-Timers take batting practice
12:30 p.m.: Gates open to ticket-holding fans
2:00 p.m.: Bob Sheppard video tribute
2:05 p.m.: Old-Timers introductions
3:00-3:30 p.m.: Old Timers’ Game
3:15 p.m.: Monument Park closes
4:10 p.m. Yankees-Rays first pitch
7th-inning stretch: Special performance honoring Bob Sheppard

Here are the former Yankees expected to attend today’s ceremony:
* denotes first-time Old-Timer
Luis Arroyo
Brian Doyle
Reggie Jackson
Joe Pepitone
Jesse Barfield
Mike Easler
Don Johnson*
Duane Pillette*
Yogi Berra
Dave Eiland
Pat Kelly
Mickey Rivers
Ron Blomberg
Cecil Fielder*
Don Larsen
Charlie Silvera
Homer Bush
Whitey Ford
Hector Lopez
Bill “Moose” Skowron
Rick Cerone
Oscar Gamble
Jill Martin (widow of Billy Martin)
Aaron Small
Chris Chambliss
Joe Girardi
Lee Mazzilli
Mel Stottlemyre
Horace Clarke
Rich “Goose” Gossage
Gene Michael
Ralph Terry
Jerry Coleman
Ron Guidry
Diana Munson (Thurman Munson’s widow)
Mike Torrez
David Cone
Charlie Hayes
Kay Murcer (Bobby Murcer’s widow)
Bob Turley
Bucky Dent
Arlene Howard (Elston Howard’s widow)
Jerry Narron
Roy White
Al Downing
Helen Hunter (Catfish Hunter’s wife)
Graig Nettles
Hank Workman*

Last night was an emotional one in the Bronx, as the Yankees remembered legendary owner George Steinbrenner. The club’s tribute to The Boss came from everywhere, writes Sam Borden — be it on the walkway outside the Stadium, from players like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera or the display of colors on the field, or in a moment of silence so quiet you could hear the subway rattle on by.

The game was won 5-4 by the Yankees thanks to one of Steinbrenner’s fellow Buckeyes, Nick Swisher, whose bat provided the tying and winning runs in the dramatic comeback. Swisher’s RBI single in the ninth scored Curtis Granderson with the winning run and earned him a well-deserved pie to the face from today’s starter A.J. Burnett. Rivera retired the side in the ninth to earn his third win.

Prior to the game, Joe Girardi defended himself for not using Alex Rodriguez as a pinch runner in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s All-Star Game. He tried to lay to rest the notion that A-Rod has any kind of thumb injury. The notes also include Jeter saying players did not know Bob Sheppard’s funeral was held on Thursday until after it was over, plus updates on Sergio Mitre, Alfredo Aceves and Nick Johnson.

Nick Swisher shared a funny story tonight that I hadn’t heard before. It was about the first time he saw — not met — George Steinbrenner.

Swisher and his Ohio State teammates were in a Columbus rib joint called Damon’s Grill for a pregame meal. He saw Steinbrenner near the bathroom but didn’t have the courage to walk up and say hello.

“I was shy,” Swisher said, eliciting laughter at the mere thought of such a thing.

Swisher only met Steinbrenner a couple times after that. He is the type of personality The Boss would have loved, but in recent years they never had a chance to share in their common bond: A love for all things Buckeyes.

“There’s two things I know that Mr. Steinbrenner loved,” Joe Girardi said. “He loved his Yankees and he loved his Buckeyes. And a Buckeye got ‘em.”

That Buckeye, of course, was Swisher, who came through with the game-tying home run in the eighth and an RBI single to win it in the ninth that is pictured above (credit: AP). The fitting conclusion brought a smile to the face of a conflicted Yankee clubhouse; they started the night in a somber mood, but reveled in the thought of a fellow Ohio guy ending things.

Even Derek Jeter, the Michigan man who struck out to set up Swisher.

“The Boss didn’t like Michigan, so I figured I’d strike out,” Jeter said.

Like me, you and the 47,524 souls here tonight, Girardi thought Jeter would win it. Turned out Swisher wasn’t the worst alternative.

“I was thinking how fitting it would be if Derek got the hit on a night like this, especially with Derek paying a tribute every day to Bob Sheppard and his love and affection for Mr. Steinbrenner,” Girardi said. “Derek had about five good swings. I thought for sure Derek was going to get it done. But George’s second love was the Buckeyes.”

Here’s Swisher, who, as always, delivered in the postgame as well:

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Here are a few other postgame notes —

• A note that shows that I don’t know what I’m talking about: Swisher has three walk-off hits in his career. His last came on 9/8/09 vs. Tampa and Dan Wheeler, who struck out Jeter and was removed for Lance Cormier, another righty. It was Cormier who allowed the winning hit…even though Swisher was 0 for 7 career against Cormier previously.
• CC Sabathia earned a no-decision, snapping his eight-start winning streak. He had been 8-0 with a 1.81 ERA in his last eight starts. He finished tonight: 7 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 B, 6 K.
• It snapped a streak of 1 ER or less in five straight starts, the longest by a Yankee since David Cone in 1999.
• The Yankees are 14-2 in CC’s last 16 home starts. He is 11-0 with a 2.14 ERA, good for the longest active home winning streak in the Majors. The streak dates back to last year’s All-Star break.
• Last CC note: He has not allowed a HR in the last 59.2 IP, the longest such stretch of his career.
• The back-to-back HR by Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada tied the game in the sixth. It was the Yanks’ seventh multi-homer inning and the third time this year they went back-to-back.
• The Yankees moved three games ahead of Tampa in the AL East. They own the best record in baseball and have won nine of 10. They are also a meaty 21-11 vs. the AL East in 2010.
• Their 28 comeback wins ties Cinci for the most in baseball.

I’m in all weekend for Chad and Sam. I’ll return in the morning with links to today’s stories and an updated schedule for tomorrow’s Old-Timers’ Day festivities.